Dear friends in Christ,
Greetings in the Lord! If you are interested in knowing more about the priesthood or the religious life I invite you to contact me, at (719) 866-6486. I will be happy to answer any questions you might have, either in person or by phone.
God has blessed our diocese with an increase of vocations to the diocesan priesthood in the last two years. Even with 15 men preparing for ordination, our local Church needs many more good, holy priests to serve the people of this fast-growing diocese.
If the Lord has not called you to the priesthood or religious life I ask that you pray daily for an increase of vocations. I especially ask that, when possible, you spend your time in prayer for vocations before the Blessed Sacrament. This Eucharistic prayer has proven to be most powerful in many places, including our own diocese. If you think that God might be calling you to be a priest or consecrated religious, be sure to pray that you might hear the call clearly. Please pray for our seminarians, too, that they will persevere and, if it be God's will, that they will be ordained to priesthood.
In addition to prayer, I ask that you make every effort to encourage the young men and women whom you know to consider seriously giving their lives to God as priests or religious sisters or brothers. Young people need to know that we love priests and religious and that we support those who follow Christ in these vocations.
Assuring you of my prayers for you, I am
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend James R. Golka
Bishop of Colorado Springs